Global stocks rebound as tech snaps losing streak

NEW YORK - Global stocks rebounded on Thursday in choppy trade as investors assessed the outlook for interest rates and tech giants rebounded from recent losses. 

All three major indexes on Wall Street finished the day firmly in the black, led by the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite index, which closed up 1.4 percent. 

Among individual firms, the chip-making behemoth Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company saw its share price in New York surge almost 10 percent after beating earnings expectations. 

Apple's share price was lifted by 3.3 percent after its stock was upgraded to "buy" by a Bank of America analyst.

European markets also closed higher, as did most Asian markets, while oil prices rose amid continued unrest in the Middle East.

The British capital's FTSE 100 also shifted back into the black following bright news in the betting sector, where gambling giant Flutter revealed surging annual sales and an imminent US listing.

The news sent its share price rocketing 15 percent to top the FTSE 100 risers board.

In Asia, stocks mostly trod higher, but gains were capped by a lack of meaningful measures by Beijing to boost China's economy following news of poor 2023 growth.

Hong Kong and Shanghai enjoyed some rare gains on bargain-buying after recent losses, though worries about China's economic outlook continued to drag on sentiment following Wednesday's soft economic growth figures.